Camping with a 2.5yo. Am nervous!!

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tell me it will all be ok.

We have a three birth tent with large entrance room type thing. Do we just put dd into bed with us? We have never co slept. Or should one of us sleep with dd in the bedroom and the other in the porch?

She has a single inflatable bed (little gruffalo type bed) but im.worried it might be cold her sleeping on her own.

She naps in her lie flat Maclaren in the day, and would sleep overnight in it, but would that be odd?

Ok so its mainly the sleeping im concerned about and there are probably a million and one other concerns.

Any hints, tips etc?

I've never done it but loads of people do. If I was going to I'd take extra bedding and mothercare do thermal long sleeve vests.
I think if you made sure she has busy days she might be so tired she can't help but collapse .
Also maybe do a few pratice runs in camp bed so it's not strange to her x

Ah you'll have a great time! How big is your tent exactly? We take an inflatable double mattress and duvet / pillows so we don't exactly rough it! Ds1 was 3yo when we first took him and he slept on his own in his little bedroom next to ours in his little inflatable Cars bed. I would have happily brought him into our bed with us but he slept so well I didn't need to. (And he was not a good sleeper at the time!) He stayed up late running around outdoors and was so exhausted by 9pm that he fell into his bed! I wouldn't recommend sleeping in your porch, it'll be cold and damp. In with you would be better. You can put her down first, then the two of you join her when you're ready. Take lots of extra layers of clothes to put on at night, a thick jumper or fleece, and blankets too. If the weather is okay for you you'll have a great time. We're planning on camping again this summer with dd2, 18mo.

We went camping at the beginning of April. We put a fleece blanket under each DC and that seemed to keep them warm.

Have a think about asking MNHQ to move this thread to camping. There's lots of Mn campers with years of experience hanging around there

I still won't bed share with my two year old on an inflatable mattress (due to risk of trapping) and that's probably more important if she isn't routinely in with you. Aside from that, lots of spare fleece blankets, entertainment for the adults to do just outside the tent, maybe a small camping chair for dd and have fun!

Where are you off to OP? Anywhere nice?

Thanks my tent

For the responses and great idea getting the thread moved. Will report and request.

Off to the Lakes. Its our usual site, though ive not been since I was pregnant. We have a kingsize inflatable mattress, however it has a puncture so need a new one.

Tent is

Thinking it might be better to get two thin single mattresses and she can go on her inflaterbed inbetween?

We have been with my DDs (2yo and 4 month old at the time). We all shared a compartment and they actually slept really well (best night sleep DD2 had until she was 9 months!). DD1 slept on an inflatable toddler bed and was fine. We got both of them one of those all-in-one 2.5 tog sleep suits and they were both toasty warm even though it was only May - definitely recommend these for staying warm plus a hat if it's chilly.

Hello

We've moved this to Camping now at the OP's request.

We have a double self-inflating Outwell mattress that would easily take the three of you in individual sleeping bags...that way you're all just curled up like puppies in a basket rather than on a bouncy bed. It's really comfortable and have no hesitation recommending it.
Take some wee toys for her...small toys that are camping too? Sylvanian families do a sleeping bag and figure set.
Just make sure she's warm and dry and outside as much as possible through the day and she'll sleep like a log at night...for years it was the best sleep we got from our youngest!!
If you like it and end up getting a bigger tent...I'd get one where the rooms are together and separated by a curtain that can be 'peeked under' rather than separated by the living area...that way you're all still together sort of...just with a little more privacy!

We use a travel cot for ours when they're small enough. DD was happy on a little inflatable bed last year at nearly 4. DS will be 2 this year and fits fine in the travel cot.

Thanks Claire was it this one?

www.google.co.uk/search?q=double+self+inflating+outwell+mattress&client=ms-android-samsung&hl=en-GB&rlz=1Y1XIUG_enGB575GB575&tbm=shop&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=BUVuU_W7Cs6w7Aafv4GIDA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=360&bih=615&dpr=2#spd=9865839851506676699

She has slept on the inflatable bed before, and well, in a house, but im worried that she may be in a dangerous position sleeping down low in it next to our very deep mattress?

I think ours is maybe the £64.99 one...it's about five years old now but still great. It doesnt roll away very small though...a bit bigger than a new duvet in its packaging?! I'd def keep her on same level as the two of you...otherwise you won't sleep! Like the travel cot idea but guess you may not have room in the bedroom compartment for that and a double mat?

She is too big for her travel cot now, she is in 3-4 clothes as she is tall like her dad.

I will have a little google and see if I can find one around that price.

Weve never used our tent yet, and sadly once this bump arrives, we will have outgrown it!

My guess is you will prefer a tent you can easily stand up in once you have 2 kids! And then get something like an Icarus where you can have a dividing wall in the sleeping compartment, or else have it as one big one, whatever suits best for the ages of kids.

My preference would be single SIMS to sleep on one each, but put close together. (Because I find our double one a bugger to roll up), and all in cosy sleeping bags, with a fleece blanket underneath and on top for your DD. SIMS insulate you from the cold in the ground far more than an airbed.

Thanks Blu thats really helpful! yes the singles wpuld be good as we can just buy one eaxh for dh and I for now and then add them as we go for the dcs.

Hopefully with only one use, we might get an ok resale price for our new one. We have a dinky two man one which we use if we go solo with friends, so will keep that, but I think come next sumner we will look to getting a flashier tent

All your camping choices change once you have kids in tents.

Another advantage of head-height tents is that you can zip the sleeping compartments up leaving the zips at the top, out of reach of would-be 3 and 4 yo Houdinis, planning a getaway at 5.30 am!

Haha good tip thanks!!

Am looking at the Vango Treck SIM, on Amazon seems to have good reviews and a good price too. Anyone used them?